Welcome to the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Star Piece and Shine Sprites Guide!
There are 100 Star Pieces and 42 Shine Sprites to find.
Shine Sprites are used to upgrade your partners. This is done in the east side of Rogueport in Merlon’s house. Star Pieces are used to trade for badges with Dazzle down in the Rogueport Sewers. You won’t be able to collect them all right away. You’ll need certain abilities in order to reach some of them, so this guide will go in the order that they can be collected.
Below is a video guide as well as a written guide.
Prologue
Rogueport
Star Piece 1 – As soon as you enter Rogueport from the Harbor, go over to the right near barrels and boxes. Go behind these to find your first Star Piece.
Star Piece 2 – From the center of Rogueport, enter the inn and go upstairs. Exit through the door on the left side of the room. Walk to the left and jump up onto the pink roof. Walk left to where the wall meets the roof and then walk down the other side of the roof to find this Star Piece.
Star Piece 3 – From the center of Rogueport, go up the middle path that heads behind the buildings. Go left and enter the doorway. Jump behind the items on the left side of the room to find this Star Piece.
Star Piece 4 – From the center of Rogueport, go to the right to Rogueport East. There is a perspective hidden door in-between the entrance on the left and the shop with the sun on the right. It looks like a wall, but there is an open doorway you can go through. Go through it and then head straight back down a narrow alley to a crate you can jump on. Jump on it and then jump to the right to find this Star Piece.
- Before leaving Rogueport, go to the west side of town and step on the contact lens. You’ll then be blocked from entering that side of town. Then, go to the item shop (marked with a Fire Flower) and speak to the first Toad to order your contact lens. When you return to Rogueport after getting the first Star, the lens will be available to purchase for 10 coins.
Rogueport Sewers
Star Piece 5 – As soon as you exit the pipe in the sewers, go to through the left doorway and then go behind the pillar to find this star piece.
Star Piece 6 – This is behind the big yellow block down in the Sewers. You do not need to smash the block for this. Just go behind it near the pipe.
Chapter 1
Petal Meadows
Star Piece 7 – This is up in a tree to the left of the first save block when you first enter the area. Go to the tree and jump up to hit it and knock it down.
Star Piece 8 – When you reach the pool of water gap in the path, use your hammer to hit the big bush nearby. This will knock down the bush revealing a pipe. Go into the pipe and you’ll then be in the background of the level. Run along the background to the right until you come across this Star Piece.
Star Piece 9 – This is found by hitting the first bush with your hammer at the top of the screen after taking the eastern exit of Petalburg.
Hooktail Castle
Shrine Sprite 1 – This will be in the next room after defeating the pink Dry Bones. The gold box will be in the middle of the room.
Star Piece 10 – This is found in the same room as the moveable stairs with the yellow and purple blocks. First, hit the small purple block and then use it to climb up on top of the bigger blocks. Jump over and use your hammer to destroy the big block blocking your path. From there, drop down next to the small yellow block and look to the left. Then, use Koops’ Shell ability by holding 
. Keep holding down so that Koops stays in place. While holding still, drop down and then go up the stairs. Get up on top of the yellow block and then release . Koops should hit the small yellow block which will then raise you up. At the top, jump over to the left and get the Star Piece.
Star Piece 11 – This is found inside of the exact same location as the previous Star Piece. You’re going to need to basically do the exact same thing but with the purple block this time. Stand next to the purple block by the stairs and look out to the left again. Use Koops’ Shell ability by holding . Keep holding down so that Koops stays in place. While holding still, drop down and then go up the stairs. Get up on top of the purple block above and then release . Koops should hit the purple block which will then raise you up. At the top, go through the doorway on the right and get the Star Piece.
Star Piece 12 – This is found immediately after going through the door that was locked with the green lock. As you hit the buttons to fill in the gaps on the walkway, you’ll come to a window that has no bars on it. Jump through that window and go to the right until you get this Star Piece.
Shrine Sprite 2 – This is found in the same room where you meet Ms. Mowz.
Star Piece 13 – After going through the door locked by the gold lock, continue going to the right until you come to the yellow block. Go to the small yellow block and look left. Then, use Koops’ Shell ability by holding . Keep holding down so that Koops stays in place. While holding still, climb up the stairs and get on the big yellow block and then release . Ride the big yellow block up and walk forward just a couple steps. Walk left along the bricks until you come to a paper airplane tile. Press 
to flatten yourself and go through the bars. Go through the bars at the top of the screen and go right until you come to the Star Piece.
Shrine Sprite 3 – This is found right next to the door locked by the blue lock.
Rogueport Sewers
Shrine Sprite 4 – This is found in the room with the Thousand-Year Door. Press to flatten yourself and go through the bars on the right side of the room. Use the spring board to jump up to the platform and then use the paper airplane tile to fly over to the left side of the room. From there, use the next springboard to jump up to the platform that has the Shine Sprite.
Rogueport West
- If you ordered the contact lens before leaving earlier, it will now be available to buy. Buy it and then bring it to the woman on the west side of town. You’ll be able to travel to the west side of Rogueport after giving her the contact lens.
Star Piece 14 – As soon as you enter the west side of Rogueport, go down toward the wall at the yellow flower garden. The Star Piece is near the corner where the wall meets the building wall by the street lamp.
Star Piece 15 – This is found behind the tall pipe in the yellow flower garden near the previous Star Piece.
Star Piece 16 – This is found on the far west side of Rogueport West. It is behind a silver trash can across from a wall with a crack in it.
Chapter 2
Boggly Woods
- Go down in the sewers and use the ability to squeeze through the bars in the room to the right of the Thousand-Year Door room.
Star Piece 17 / Shine Sprite 5 – Progress through the chapter until you come to a big silver pipe and an exclamation point box in the background. Go a little further past that point until you climb hidden stairs. Climbing up the stairs will take you to the background area. Walk to the left back to the big silver pipe via the background. Jump on the “!” box and the silver pipe will raise up. Pick up the Star Piece and then enter the silver pipe and it’ll take you to the Shine Sprite. Use Koops to reach the box.
Star Piece 18 – When you enter the area with Flurrie’s house in the background, there will be a row of three trees near the entrance to the area. Hit the third tree with the hammer to get this Star Piece to fall down from the tree.
Star Piece 19 – This is found just to the left of the silver pipe that takes you to Flurrie’s house. It will be near the near the fence.
Great Tree
Shine Sprite 6 – Progress through the chapter until you reach the second platform that requires the Puni. Drop down the middle where the bubbles are coming from and go over to the right side to find this Shine Sprite.
Shine Sprite 7 – Progress through the chapter until you have to use Flurrie to blow the object off of the paper airplane tile. Use the plane to fly to the platform on the right and then fly over to the left to reach this Shine Sprite.
Star Piece 20 – Progress through the chapter until you see the character run off with the blue key. You’ll be on a narrow platform. Drop down and hit the bush to the right of the save block with your hammer to reveal this Star Piece.
Star Piece 21 – Progress through the chapter until you defeat the Jabbi x100. Go down the pipe in the following room and then go behind the behind the pipe at the bottom.
Star Piece 22 – Progress through the chapter until you are trapped in a cage. Use the ability to squeeze through the bars and then go down the pipe on the right. At the bottom, go behind the pipe you just came out of to find this piece.
Shine Sprite 8 – Immediately after getting the Super Boots, exit the room and use your new jump ability on the X in the very next room. Jump across the platforms in the next room to reach the Shine Sprite.
Shine Sprite 9 – Progress through the chapter until you drain the water using Koops. Go down the pipe and jump to the lily pads under the sprite box to get it.
Star Piece 23 – After the timer starts, go up the pipe and then hit the bottom middle bush with the hammer to reveal this piece. It is next to the control panel for locked door.
Star Piece 24 – This is found under a floor panel in the room with the 10 count puzzle. You’ll need to use a Spin Jump just to the left or right of the panel in order to get it to flip over.
Star Piece 25 – This is found under a floor panel in the blue jail cell.
- From here, it’ll be clean up time for some of the Star Pieces that we were unable to get due to not having the Spin Jump until now.
Flurrie’s House
Star Piece 26 – This is found in Flurrie’s bedroom in front of her bed under a floor panel.
Rogueport Sewers
Star Piece 27 – This is found just in front of the pipe that takes you to the Boggly Woods on sublevel three under a floor panel.
Star Piece 28 – This is found near the cursed chest on sublevel three under a floor panel.
Star Piece 29 – This is found under a floor panel in the Thousand-Year Door room near the bottom of the screen.
Star Piece 30 – This is found under a floor panel down the stairs from where you first entered the sewers.
Petalburg
Star Piece 31 – This is found on the west side of Petalburg at the bottom of the screen under a floor panel. Cross a narrow brown walkway to reach the small island.
Star Piece 32 – This is found under a floor panel at the far east side of Petalburg near the exit.
Hooktail Castle
Star Piece 33 – Enter the castle and go right until you come to the room with the bars at the top of the screen. Squeeze through the bars and go left to find this under a floor panel.
Rogueport
Star Piece 34 – This is found under a floor panel in front of Frankly’s house.
Star Piece 35 – This is found under a floor panel near the center of town.
Star Piece 36 – From the previous Star Piece, go up the alley way at the top of the screen. Go right to find this under a floor panel near a goomba.
Star Piece 37 – This is found under a floor panel at Rogueport Harbor near the scaffolding by the exit.
Star Piece 38 – This is found under a floor panel by the entrance to Pianta Parlor.
Star Piece 39 – This is found under a floor panel next to the train at the north side of town. It is up the stairs all the way to the left.
Star Piece 40 – This is found under a floor panel behind the pipe that takes you to the blimp. This is opposite of the previous collectible.
Chapter 3
Glitzville
Star Piece 41 – This is found under a floor panel directly south of the center of town.
Star Piece 42 – This is found in the south west corner of Glitzville behind a phone booth.
Star Piece 43– This is found behind the plant on the right leading up to the door of Glitz Pit.
Shine Sprite 10 – As soon as you land in Glitzville, this Shine Sprite will be to the left of Fresh Juice. Use Koops shell ability to hit an invisible box under the Shine Sprite. Hitting it will reveal the box which will allow you to reach the Shine Sprite.
Star Piece 44 – This is found inside of Fresh Juice in the top left corner of the store behind the blenders.
Star Piece 45 – This is found on top of Fresh Juice. Go over to the bottom right side of Glitzville and you should see a big “!” box. Get on top of it and do a Spin Jump. A set of stairs will be revealed leading up to the to top of the store. Go up top ans use Koops’ shell ability at the sign on the roof. You want his shell to go under the sign and hit the Star Piece in order to collect it.
Glitz Pit
Star Piece 46 – This is found in the lobby in the top left corner near the left stairs.
Star Piece 47 – Progress through the chapter until you receive the Storage Room key from the mysterious emailing ally. This will happen as part of the story. Once you have it, use it on the lock in Glitz Pit. This will then be found under a floor panel near the center of the room slightly right.
Shine Sprite 11 – From the previous collectible, use Flurrie to blow the boxes away in the same room and then smash through them to the switch. Hit the switch and go upstairs where this Shine Sprite can be found out in the open.
Star Piece 48 – Progress through the chapter until you receive the blue key by blowing down the Mario posters in the lobby with Flurrie. Once you have done that, return to the storage room and go back up stairs to where the previous Shine Sprite was and use the key on the locked door. Go through and use Yoshi to get over the boxes. Smash the yellow box and then go behind the stack of boxes in the bottom right corner of the screen to find this Star Piece.
Star Piece 49 – Progress through the chapter until you enter Grubba’s office via the air vent. Drop into his office and then go in front of the plant in the bottom left corner of the room.
Star Piece 50 – This is in the top desk drawer of Grubba’s office right by the previous Star Piece.
Rogueport East
Star Piece 51 – Go to the Trouble Center and use the ability to squeeze between the two buildings to get behind the houses. This Star Piece is found between the barrel and crate on your right after squeezing through.
Shine Sprite 12 – From the previous collectible, use Yoshi’s Flutter ability to jump over the stream of water and hop up onto the crates to get this Shine Sprite.
Star Piece 52 – Starting in front of the Trouble Center, use Yoshi’s Flutter ability to jump over the stream of water. On the other side, climb up the boxes and onto the roof of the building. This is found under a floor panel on the square roof.
Star Piece 53 – From the previous collectible, use Flutter one more time to get across to the next roof and then go behind the Chimney to find this Star Piece.
Shine Sprite 13 – From the previous Star Piece, jump to the building in the background and go to the top left side of the roof.
Rougeport Sewers
- Go to the west side of Rogueport and then use the ability to fall through the drain and down into the sewers.
Shine Sprite 14 – As soon as you land in the western sewers, use Yoshi to flutter across toward the pipe behind you. The box will be next to the pipe.
Star Piece 54 – From the previous Shine Sprite, go down the nearby pipe and you’ll be in the background of the area. Go to the right to get this Star Piece.
Star Piece 55 – From where you dropped in, drop down under the two floating platforms and go behind the big platform you landed on when you fell into this area.
Shine Sprite 15 – From the previous collectible, go down the small pipe at the top of the screen. Squeeze through the bars as soon as you exit the pipe and go through the door on the right. You’ll now be in a room that will have pipes directly to each of the game’s different areas. Use the hammer to destroy the big yellow block to reveal this Shine Sprite.
Star Piece 56 – From the previous collectible, exit the room through the same door you entered. Go left and use Flurrie’s ability on the wall to the left of the “?” block to reveal a new pipe. Go down the pipe and then go over to the right side behind the steps to find this Star Piece.
Star Piece 57 – From the area where you drop into the western sewers, jump across the two platforms and go through the doorway. On the other side, go behind the pillar above you to find this piece.
Star Piece 58 – From the previous collectible, head further right into the small town and go behind the over turned pillars to find this piece.
Star Piece 59 – From the previous collectible, ride the moving block in the same area up and go into the door on the left. This is under a floor panel in the shop.
Chapter 4
Twilight Town
Star Piece 60 – This is found by hitting a patch of grass in front of a tree in Twilight Town.
Star Piece 61 – This is found behind the house on the left in Twilight Town.
Star Piece 62 – This is found in east section of Twilight Town. It is in front of two barrels next to a tree at the bottom of the area.
Twilight Trail
Star Piece 63 – This is found behind the fallen log with the key. Use Koops’ shell ability to shoot his shell under the tree to get the Star Piece.
Star Piece 64 – This is found behind the pipe that was hidden by the straw hut. Use Flurrie to blow the hut away to reveal the pipe.
Shine Sprite 16 – Continue through the chapter until you move the boulders to reveal two holes in the trail. After popping up on the other side of the boulder, this Shine Sprite will be hidden behind the last tree on the path.
Creepy Steeple
Shine Sprite 17 – Jump down the well outside of the locked gate to find this off to the left.
Star Piece 65 – Roll through the hole in the wall on the right side of the locked gate. From there, go over to the left side of the gate to find this behind the wall near the save block.
Shine Sprite 18 – As soon as you enter Creepy Steeple, roll through the hole in the wall at the top of the screen. This Shine Sprite will be out in the open.
Star Piece 66 – This is in the same treasure room as the previous Shine Sprite. It is behind the barrel in the top left corner of the room.
Star Piece 67 – This is found under a floor panel in the room with that the stair case that you have to move. It is near the center marking on the floor.
Shine Sprite 19 – After getting Vivian as an ally, return to the Creepy Steeple and jump into the well again. Push the gate up and then use Vivian’s ability to hide in the shadows. Reappear after the gate slides past you and you’ll be on the other side of the gate. Go through the next door and you’ll find the Shine Sprite.
Star Piece 68 -Progress through the chapter until you have to slam through a board and fall down. When you land, you’ll be behind background windows. Go to the right to find this Star Piece.
Star Piece 69 – This is found under a floor panel in the same room as the parrot. You will need to come here as part of the story.
Rogueport
- Place the fourth Crystal Star at the Thousand-Year Door.
Shine Sprite 20 – This is found inside of Admiral Bobbery’s house in east Rogueport. We were on his roof earlier in the game when we picked up the Star Piece behind his chimney. Get back up there, but this time roll into his chimney and you’ll land inside of his house. Once inside, go into the back room to find this Shine Sprite.
Shine Sprite 21 – Go to the west side of Rogueport and enter the first door at the top of the screen. Go upstairs and roll Mario up and into the hole in the wall. This Shine Sprite will be on the other side of the house after rolling through the hole.
Chapter 5
Keelhaul Key
Star Piece 70 – This is found just before entering the camp under a floor panel after getting off the ship.
Star Piece 71 – This is found in the bottom left corner of the screen in the water of the camp area.
Star Piece 72 – This is found on the right side of the camp area behind the boulder near the tent where Mario can rest.
Star Piece 73 – This is found in the very first patch of grass after taking the eastern exit from the camp. It’ll be as soon as you enter the new area.
Star Piece 74 – Progress a little further from the previous Star Piece until you come to a section where there are platforms in the mountain wall background. This will be behind a root on the bottom level after the second Piranha Plant enemy.
Shine Sprite 22 – From the previous Star Piece, make your way across the platforms in the rock wall. For the long gap, get on the box on the ground and jump up to reveal a hidden box. This Shrine Sprite will be at the top of this platforming section on the left. You’ll need to use Yoshi in order to reach it.
Shine Sprite 23 – This will be at the end of the bridge in plain view.
Star Piece 75 – This will be behind a boulder in the water at the bottom of the screen just after rescuing Bobbery from the tree.
- Spin jump on the red mustache three times and hit the blue mustache with your hammer 4 times to complete the skull cave entrance puzzle.
Pirate’s Grotto
Shine Sprite 24 – This will be in plain view on a half sunk boat after dropping down the big cliffs after entering Pirate’s Grotto.
Star Piece 76 – This will be in plain view on a small island immediately after the previous Shine Sprite.
Shine Sprite 25 – This will be found in plain view at the top of the small platforms up the wall after the save box. There is a hidden box under the Shine Sprite you can use to reach it. Hit it with your hammer to make it appear.
Star Piece 77 – This is found under a panel when you first enter Pirate’s Grotto Waterfall after the previous Shine Sprite.
Shine Sprite 26 – This is found in the room where you need to ride the platform elevator up. Use Koops to hit the “!” box while standing on the platform. When he hits it, you’ll raise up. Jump over to the counter weight barrel and ride that up. This box will be on your left on some barrels.
Star Piece 78 – This is in the last barrel right next to the previous Shine Sprite.
Star Piece 79 – This is under a panel on the ground in the room you unlocked with the key. It is in the center of the room.
Shine Sprite 27 – This is found in the room with the waves after the previous Star Piece room. Use Koops to reach it.
Shine Sprite 28 – This is found in the room after rolling under the spikes. There is a hidden block below it you can use to reach it.
Rogueport
Star Piece 80 – Go to the right side of Rogueport Harbor and use your new boat ability. Swim over to the left side of the area and enter a hidden house. This is behind the barrels on the right inside of the hidden house.
Shine Sprite 29 – Go to the cracked wall to the left of Pianata Parlor in west Rogueport. Use Bobbery to blow open the wall and then enter to find this.
Rougeport Sewers
Shine Sprite 30 – Go to Sublevel One of the sewers and head east until you come to a boat tile. Use it and swim over to the right.
Chapter 6
Excess Express
Shine Sprite 31 – This is found inside of Mario’s cabin at the very beginning of the chapter on the left side.
Star Piece 81 – This is found under a floor panel in cabin 004. It is in the center of the room.
Star Piece 82 – This is found under a floor panel in the engine room. Keep going right and you’ll come to this room. It is on the left side of the room near the door.
Star Piece 83 – Initiate the missing food quest after speaking with the conductor and then solve it by following the trail on the ground. Interact with it and then enter cabin 003. Speak to the Toad and then search his drawer for the pot. Return to the Chef and give him the pot. He will give you this Star Piece in return.
Shine Sprite 32 – After speaking with Pennington in his car (006), go speak with the family in car 008. After speaking with all of them, exit the cabin and speak to the conductor. From there, speak with Bub again and he’ll give you another hint. After that, go speak to the engineer to get his autograph. Then, bring it to Bub in car 008. He will give you this Shine Sprite for the autograph.
Star Piece 84 – This is found in the drawer of car 008 with the family and Bub from the previous Shine Sprite.
- Progress the story by speaking with Pennington and the conductor, go into cabin 004 and hide with Vivian’s ability. Speak with the ghost that appears to get the location of the stolen blanket. Solve the missing blanket quest and then go to sleep in your car.
Star Piece 85 – On day 2 , speak with the waitress in car three and she will explain that she lost a pair of shell earrings. From there, speak with Pennington again to learn of some missing papers. Search cabin 001 for the papers. Once you have them, go speak with Pennington again. After that, go into cabin 005 and hide with Vivian’s ability. Once the character walks in, re-appear and get the missing items from him. Return the earrings to the waitress and she will give you this Star Piece.
Riverside Station
Star Piece 86 – This is found behind the spinning gear on the right after jumping across the colored platforms. It is behind the gear with the green key on it.
Shine Sprite 33 – After opening the door with the green key, follow the path all the way to the right and go down the stairs where you will see this Shine Sprite.
Shine Sprite 34 – This is found at the top of the stairs in the records room. Use Koops to reach this Sprite.
Poshley Heights
Star Piece 87 – This is found under a floor panel at the base of the stairs in the first section of town.
Star Piece 88 – This is found behind the chair on the left side of the house to your left from the previous Star Piece.
Star Piece 89 – This is found inside of the hedge on the right side of the first section of town. There is a little opening to the hedge behind the white table and chair.
Star Piece 90 – Enter the second section of town and then go behind the tall hedge on your immediate right next to the small set of stairs to find this Star Piece in the back corner of the hedge wall.
Shine Sprite 35 – Continue making your way to the right until you come to the Poshley Sanctum. This Sprite will be on the right side of the building outside. Use your new Spring Jump to reach it.
Poshley Sanctum
Shine Sprite 36 – This is found inside of the Poshley Sanctum in the second room. There will be purple ghosts every where. Use your Spring Jump to reach the poles and make your way up to the middle ledge on the left side of the room. Fromt there, come toward the bottom of the screen to find this Sprite.
Rougeport Sewers
Star Piece 91 – Enter the sewers and head all the way right in sublevel one. Keep going until you come to the boat tile. Use your Spring Jump to jump up to the pipe at the top of the screen. Climb this pipe all the way over to the right side and drop down near the green pipe. Go through the pipe and then enter the house on the other side. This will be on the hammock inside of the house.
Shrine Spite 37 – From the small town on sublevel one, go in-between the two stores in the middle and you’ll see a pip on the left side. Stand on the small puddle of water next to that pipe and do a Spring Jump up to the pipe above out of view. From there, climb right and jump off the roofs and onto the pillar to reach this Sprite.
Shine Sprite 38, 39, 40 – Starting in the room with the fast travel pipes, take the door on the left. Continue left and go behind the wall where the pipe is in front of the stairs. Follow the hidden path to the boat tile and swim all the way to the right until you reach the end. You can use Spring Jump to reach the one in the middle.
Chapter 7
Path to Fahr Outpost
Star Piece 92 – This is found under a floor panel to the left of the pipe you exit from at the very beginning of the area.
Shine Sprite 41 – This is found behind the second tree in the second area.
Star Piece 93 – This is found behind a small patch of frozen grass at the bottom of the screen near the first Frost Piranha enemy you encounter.
Star Piece 94 – This is found behind the stone wall at the bottom of the screen just before entering Fahr Outpost.
Fahr Outpost
Star Piece 95 – This is found behind a corner stone wall at the bottom left of the screen in the Outpost.
Star Piece 96 – This is found under a floor panel in front of the canon in the center of town.
Shine Sprite 42 – This is found in the eastern side of of the Outpost behind the building on the right past the canon in the middle of town.
Star Piece 97 – This is found inside of General White’s house in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Moon
Star Piece 98 – This is found behind the rock that is closest to the pipe that takes you to the X-Naut Fortress.
X-Naut Fortress
Star Piece 99 – Go to sublevel two. From the elevator, go right and enter the second door. Go to the top right corner and do a spring jump up into the vent. Climb the pole in the vent to the left and drop down. Run all the way to the left to find this Star Piece.
Star Piece 100 – From the previous Star Piece, go right until you get the second vent on the floor. Use the ability to fall through the vent. You’ll land on the machinery inside the room. Use Yoshi to make it across to the cog. From there, go to sublevel one. Go all the way to the left and enter the room. Enter the cog and then press the buttons in this order, left – right – center. Then, use the crane to pick up the Star Piece. The crane is a little tricky. You need to line it up just right in order to successfully grab it.
